Asbestos has been used extensively in the construction industry for its superior insulation properties before its health hazards were discovered and its use eventually banned. It is likely that many residential buildings built before the 2000s in Turkey contain asbestos. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness of the potential danger of asbestos exposure during demolition work and to identify asbestos-containing materials and ensure their safe removal and disposal. This study is executed to determine the residential dwellings containing asbestos in Izmir, Turkey. The research included field studies to determine asbestos presence in the buildings that were damaged during the 2020 earthquake. Air measurements and bulk samples were taken from 50 buildings that would go through the demolition process. Eleven buildings were found to contain asbestos which corresponds to 22%. The detected asbestos type was 60% chrysotile (white asbestos). Results could be helpful for future demolition work, which are conducted in the same region that includes buildings with similar properties. Also, it is expected that the database created for this study could be useful in other studies in Turkey, where accurate statistical data related with asbestos measurements is essentially non-existent.

In the departments of civil engineering, many experiments are conducted in laboratories for educational and research purposes. Varying degrees of respirable dust are generated as the outcome of these experiments, which could cause harm to instructors’ and students’ health. This study is devised to highlight the importance of indoor air quality in university laboratories. As part of the research, four different particulate matter (PM) sizes (PM_1.0, PM_2.5, PM_4.0, and PM₁₀) were measured during specific experiments—sieve analysis, preparation of the concrete mixture, crushing aggregate by jaw crusher, dynamic triaxial compression test, sieve analysis of silt specimen, cleaning sieve by an air compressor, and proctor compaction test—being conducted periodically in the laboratories of civil engineering departments. The measured values are mainly high compared to indoor air quality standards. Mitigation strategies were applied to reduce indoor air PM levels in the three experiments that contained the highest PM levels. The results have shown that mitigation strategies applied as control measures could make a remarkable difference in protecting instructors and civil engineering students.

Construction site layout planning (CSLP) is an optimization issue that has been studied for decades. However, risk factors are still open to exploration, and risk is often not addressed comprehensively in the state-of-the-art literature; moreover, only a few studies have investigated safety as an optimization component in construction sites. This research aims to obtain optimal layout solutions that minimize site risk. In this study, the components of the risk factor were defined as interaction flows between facilities, closeness factors, and the influence of tower cranes. The Dragonfly Algorithm (DA) was selected to solve the CSLP problem due to its strong exploration and exploitation capacity. A DA-based model was developed that integrates the relationships between facilities into a single objective function. This integration extends existing CSLP optimization frameworks by explicitly incorporating multiple risk factors, which constitutes the novelty of the proposed approach. The model was implemented in an actual construction site as a case study. Also, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) were employed for comparison purposes. The acquired layout plans showed that the DA provided lower site risk values with feasible solutions for CSLP optimization problems. To validate the results, structured feedback was obtained from 10 experienced project managers and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) experts, confirming the practical and safety relevance of the optimized layouts. Overall, the proposed DA-based model in this study not only provides feasible solutions for CSLP problems but also integrates comprehensive safety considerations that enable more efficient and safer construction site layouts.

To investigate the relationship between reinforced concrete beams under pure torsion and steel fiber usage, 16 large-scaled reinforced concrete beams with inadequate torsion steel were designed and produced. For experiments, a new test setup was designed to allow specimens to have rotational movement on one end and axial movement on the other end. The variables were selected as 300 and 400 mm spacings of transverse reinforcements and 0.0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, 1.2%, and 1.5% by volume of the mixture as steel fiber ratios. Cracking torque, maximum torque and ultimate torque values were obtained experimentally, and torque-twist curves and energy dissipation capacities were determined. Findings were compared to indicate the relationship between variables. Results showed that certain values of steel fiber ratio as a replacement material for relevant spacing of transverse reinforcements.

Asbestos has been used extensively in the construction industry for its superior insulation properties before its health hazards were discovered and eventually getting banned. It would not be wrong to assume all residential buildings built before the 2000s in Turkey contain asbestos. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness of the potential danger of asbestos exposure during demolition work and to identify asbestos-containing materials and ensure their safe removal and disposal. This study summarizes the efforts being made in the “Asbestos Free Demolition” EU project, which is executed to determine the residential dwellings containing asbestos in Izmir. The project included field study to determine asbestos presence in the buildings that were damaged during the 2020 earthquake. 505 bulk samples were taken from 50 buildings that would go through the demolition process. 11 buildings were found to contain asbestos. This rate corresponds to 22%. In addition to asbestos removal processes in these buildings containing asbestos, air measurements were taken from each building. The detected asbestos type was 60% chrysotile (white asbestos). The concentration of asbestos in the air is ignorable also personal exposure did not exceed the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for 0.1 fiber/cm³. Results demonstrate the findings of asbestos-containing materials and suggestions before demolition work. Also, it is expected that the database created for this study could be useful in other studies involving Turkey, where accurate statistical data related with asbestos measurements is still difficult to obtain.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an asbestos awareness training program targeting stakeholders in Turkey's construction sector who are considered the most important individuals in preventing asbestos exposure at both occupational safety and public health levels. Conducted across five regions, the study engaged 813 participants, including civil engineers, students, and practitioners. Using pre- and post-surveys, the study assessed participants’ knowledge of asbestos-related hazards, regulatory frameworks, and safe handling practices. Participants demonstrated significant knowledge improvements, with post-survey scores increasing by up to 300% in certain regions. Statistical analysis using paired t-tests revealed that the improvements were statistically significant across all cities (p < 0.05). Findings underline the critical role of educational initiatives in addressing knowledge gaps and raising awareness. This study demonstrates that structured asbestos awareness training can significantly enhance knowledge and preparedness, serving as a model for similar public health issues aimed at reducing occupational and environmental risks globally. Unlike research that measures public awareness, this study specifically addresses the high-risk groups.